Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Blizzard is Over

The blizzard is over, at least for Repulse Bay. It will linger on in Rankin Inlet for the rest of today.

It was a real storm -- a typical spring blizzard north of the Arctic Circle.

About 5:00 pm I had to travel from the green building you see on the left of the photograph to my hotel -- a distance of perhaps 300 yards. But I was carrying a command box of documents and as soon as I was out the door I realized I could not see more than a few feet in any direction -- indeed, my hands were hard to see. The wind was a great howling and disorientation easy. The Community Centre behind me had vanished into a white swirling maelstrom; the only way was forward.

But I knew the direction to go and after perhaps five very long minutes the bulk of the Inns North sign appeared albeit ghostly ahead.

I came in, shook off and thought how someone on the land could have been caught so very easily never to be seen again. A hot toddy as in order -- but of course this is Nunavut so that was not coming.